Chapter 443: Four in the Courtyard Meet for the First Time—Dreams Are Small!

Yu Ke's spirit stirred slightly.

He noticed the northern courtyard gate slowly opening.

A beautiful female cultivator in red robes stepped out.

Her face was oval, with faint dimples.

Xie Wanwan pushed open the door.

Since returning to her room last night, Xie Wanwan had tossed and turned, unable to sleep; Yu Ke's act of yielding the trial opportunity left her thoughts chaotic and restless, making sleep impossible.

She patted her cheeks.

"Xie Wanwan, Xie Wanwan, what's wrong with you!"

Cultivation couldn't calm her turbulent mind, so she simply sat and stared, lest her qi circulation go awry and cause more harm than good.

She kept glancing through the window toward the eastern quarters.

In an instant!

Dawn light crept in, gradually brightening the window.

The sound of swordplay outside grew louder, followed by Yu's voice in conversation.

Xie Wanwan got up and tidied her appearance.

When she stepped out of her room, she met Yu Ke's warm smile as he greeted her:

"Sister Xie, good morning!"

Hearing this, Xie Wanwan's cheeks involuntarily flushed red—she usually rose at noon; when had she ever risen this early?

In contrast, Yu had, for three years straight, trained diligently in the courtyard every day, rain or shine; his perseverance and resolve filled her with quiet admiration.

Xie Wanwan silently marveled—how had she never noticed Yu's diligence before?

"Good morning, Brother Yu," she murmured.

"Is this Brother Yu?"

She swallowed the second half of the thought before it left her lips.

She studied his attire closely—it resembled the daily robes issued by the sect, but darker in hue, meant for ordinary cultivation practice.

Even lowly servants in the Shenxiao Sect received two sets.

She had always disliked this robe—its design was dull, loose and bulky; she had never worn one.

It ruined her appearance.

Yet on Yu, it looked effortlessly elegant.

His black hair was slightly disheveled, his features clear and refined, his gaze gentle.

Paired with the long sword resting on his back, he radiated heroic vigor.

Xie Wanwan could hardly believe it.

Today's Brother Yu seemed even better than yesterday's.

Yet the faint, elegant fragrance from yesterday was gone.

They had lived in the same courtyard for nearly three years—how had she never noticed how outstanding he was?

Xie Wanwan snapped back to reality; Yu Ke had already introduced the three of them.

Wang Yunxi—she had met her at that banquet, and knew her well.

Xie Wanwan had also noticed this new neighbor.

Luo Yunfeng, of the Chen family.

It startled her—this was one of the most powerful clans in the Three Provinces.

Chen Jingqiu smiled politely at her.

At the northeastern corner of the courtyard, pear blossoms bloomed profusely, white petals reflected in the pond.

Several servants entered through the gate, bowing slightly to Chen Jingqiu, then arranging tables and chairs in the courtyard.

Hot breakfast was served, filling the air with rich, fragrant aromas.

Yu Ke glanced briefly and was inwardly stunned.

Not just Yu Ke—even the wealthy Xie Wanwan stared, eyes wide.

The steaming soup and warm porridge contained precious medicinal herbs; this meal's extravagance rivaled yesterday's spending at Zuijiangyue.

And it seemed this was Chen's daily fare.

"Brother Yu, you've clearly reached the peak of the Second Ladder, your Shentian acupoint has been opened—only one final step remains before Foundation Establishment, correct?"

Chen Jingqiu asked:

"Brother Yu, how do you plan to achieve Foundation Establishment?"

His tone carried genuine concern.

Yu Ke had intended to leave, but Chen Jingqiu naturally placed chopsticks and bowls before them both.

Yu Ke had not eaten since opening his Shentian acupoint last night; the scent made his stomach rumble and his appetite surge.

"I'm starving!"

He politely accepted the spirit porridge Chen offered and murmured:

"Thank you, Brother."

"Foundation Establishment concerns the very foundation of cultivation—it demands caution. I have no complete plan yet."

Chen Jingqiu nodded politely to Xie Wanwan.

Seeing Yu Ke accept without refusal, Xie Wanwan felt less hesitant and gently lifted the spirit porridge, savoring it slowly.

One sip—and her eyes brightened; the flavor surpassed even yesterday's at Zuijiangyue.

Her meridians stirred with vitality, her stomach warmed pleasantly.

Medicinal cuisine!

This was the true power of a great clan—years of medicinal meals quietly reshaping the body.

Yet Wang Yunxi felt a flicker of displeasure.

She had hoped for more time alone with her cousin, but these two unexpected arrivals had interrupted her—she felt both annoyance and confusion.

She wondered: though her cousin was always gentle, he preferred solitude—even at family gatherings, he dined alone, rarely so sociable.

Today's behavior was utterly unlike his usual self.

"Brother Yu, try this soup—it's slow-simmered with Purple Monkey Flower and Blood Ginseng, with male rooster as the base flavor."

Chen Jingqiu explained,

"It will greatly nourish your newly awakened Primordial Spirit."

Yu Ke tasted it gently—the broth melted on his tongue, its flavor exquisite beyond words.

His Primordial Spirit felt profoundly at ease.

This was true luxury!

After breakfast, the servants swiftly cleared the table and withdrew quietly.

At the gate, Yu Ke noticed the carriage used by Chen Jingqiu during his move yesterday.

Beside it, the "Leize White Tiger," which had looked comically cute yesterday, now sat quietly like a giant cat, tail swaying gently.

On the carriage sat a woman with white gauze over her eyes, cradling an ancient qin.

Her features were dignified, her posture graceful; her long white robe draped over her legs like a willow swaying in the wind.

Yu Ke silently guessed she might be Chen's servant.

After all, such prominent families often had childhood attendants who served their masters' daily needs.

Chen Jingqiu, seeing Yu Ke's gaze, seemed to understand his thought.

"It's not as you imagine, Brother Yu!"

Wang Yunxi glanced at the woman on the carriage, her eyes showing faint impatience.

"When Brother traveled the Three Provinces, he passed the Eastern Sea—ten thousand acres of water parted automatically as he drove his carriage calmly into it."

"Rainbows descended from the heavens, and golden lotuses bloomed upon the sea's surface."

"The sea clans were astonished—this woman is the princess of the Jiao People. She insisted on following Brother as a servant—she has no shame."

Yu Ke couldn't help smiling at this.

He recalled how Wang Yunxi had been the undisputed center of attention at the banquet, handling every interaction with the noble families of Da Zhou flawlessly.

Now, she was clearly different.

Chen Jingqiu interrupted: "Yunxi, don't be disrespectful. Mingzhu is a royal princess—how can you insult her?"

Wang Yunxi pouted, knowing her cousin rarely lost his temper—his elders all feared him—and quickly apologized: "Yunxi knows her mistake!"

Xie Wanwan's eyes flickered as she pondered: the Jiao People of the Eastern Sea were among the few great royal clans, second only to the Dragon Clan, descendants of True Spirits, their power rivaling the Chen family's.

For a Jiao princess to willingly serve as a servant, Chen Jingqiu must be no ordinary figure in the Luo Yunfeng Chen family.

More remarkable still—he came from such nobility yet remained gentle, humble, and courteous.

He lived up to the Chen name.

Chen Jingqiu looked toward the woman on the carriage and said slowly:

"Mingzhu is of the Jiao royal bloodline, born with True Spirit lineage. The qin she holds is their ancestral treasure—merely brushing its strings summons tidal waves."

"I've urged her many times not to degrade herself as a servant—but she… sigh."

He sighed softly.

Yu Ke had no interest in meddling and said nothing.

At this moment.

The door of a room at the west end of the small courtyard slowly opened, and a fair-haired young lord stepped out calmly, a mystical bird perched on his shoulder.

Xie Wanwan was seeing this neighbor—only arrived a few days ago—for the first time.

Chen Jingqiu's gaze fell on the boy's shoulder, and he frowned slightly.

Wang Yunxi was even more visibly astonished.

Cai Yingzhao scanned the few people in the courtyard but ignored them entirely, walking straight through.

The bird flapped its wings and soared high, landing lightly on the pear tree, plucking a white pear blossom, then fluttering back to the boy's shoulder.

Cai Yingzhao gave Yu Ke a slight nod.

Yu Ke nodded back in return; after all, the two had already discussed "the rental matter" yesterday—this man was his patron.

Wang Yunxi stared at the back of the white-robed boy as he departed, lost in thought.

"Cousin, if I didn't imagine it, this man seems to be from the Cai family?"

Chen Jingqiu paid no heed to Wang Yunxi's words and asked instead:

"Yu Jiedi, do you know this man?"

Yu Ke gave a light nod.

Xie Wanwan's face lit up too, especially at the mention of the Cai family.

"Could it be that divine child of the Cai family, born with the feather of a true phoenix beside him, and a true phoenix reborn from flame to guard his Dao?"

Wang Yunxi nodded and said:

"I saw him myself when I accompanied my father in the Divine Capital—this must be him."

The Cai family and the Wang family were both great clans of the Great Zhou Divine Dynasty, each with a True Person residing within.

Wang Yunxi had never imagined such an extraordinary figure was hidden in this small courtyard.

"It seems he, too, has come for Yunxiao Immortal's opening of the mountain!" Wang Yunxi sighed.

"The Shangqing lineage—Yunxiao Immortal!"

Yu Ke didn't care much about this grand event stirring all three continents.

It had little to do with a mere outer-disciple like him.

He only wanted to advance to the inner sect.

His dream was modest.

Gentlemen, today's chapter is rushed and a bit short—I'll make up a full chapter tomorrow!

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(End of Chapter)